THE RAILWAY DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 149, 19 March 1920, Page 7

THE RAILWAY DISPUTE

WAITING FOR MR. MASSEY

SUGGESTION OF STRIKE BALLOT

| The rnilwavmen's dispute is at a standstill pending the recovery of the Minister'of Railways (Right Hon. W. P. Massev) from his recent operation. The executives of the'A.S.R.S. and.the locomotive men's association have decided UDon. their course of action in the event of failure to reach a satisfactory settlement, but they have undertaken to wait until Mr. Mnssev is able to see them. They, do not know, in the if the report of the Railway Commission is to be.regarded as'the. decision of the Government. . £ ' A report that, the rnilwaymen are gO- - to take a ballot, on the question of declaring a strike has been rmblished. This rnnort is premature. The pxecuti.yes intend first to ascertain the decision of the Government with reference to the. report of the Railway Onnlniission. The next stcr> m.iv be a bnllo»,on the question of accepting the Government's offer or declaring a strike. It is underatood'fhnt this suggestion has been discussed bv the.executive of the A.S.R.S.,'but the officers of the organisation make 'no statement on the subject at p-^enf.

A me.=saen from Auckland stated that the Auckland branch of the Railwnv Officers' Institute passed a motion deprecating extreme measures.' An officer of the' institute stated 'yesterday that the "x°cutive of the s ',institute had never considered extreme inn)«ur»s.' A broposol to s'rike had never even been discussed bv t.h° institute. "If the Government will only realise the position brought about bv the increased-cost of livinsr." stated the sam° informant, "there is nothing connected with the disDnte with, the railwevmen which cannot hi settled peacefully. The nrinoiple of reviewing .the bonus even- six months is on« which. I feel sure, tb» railwaymen will be glad to accept. However, a satisfactory basic wage must be agreed upon first."

SPECIAL OBJECTION TO BONUS. ' :By Telegranhr-TTon taso^nH^n. Dunedin, March 18. At a general meeting of the Dunedin Branch of the linilway Officers' Institute held to-night, the following resolution was carried unanimously: "This meeting unanimously disapproves of the recommendations of the Wages Inquiry Board, especially with regard to the bo/ius for married and single officers, which is quite inadequate to meet the ever-increas-ing cost of living. It considers that there, should be no distinction made between the tonus.granted married or single officers. We also express strong disapproval of the reference made by cer- 1 tain branches of railway societies, in connection with the visit of the Prince of Wales to New Zealand."